A Few Questions and a "Chances"

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hi, I’m planning on applying to Penn ED presumably for the Jerome Fisher M&T Program or only to Wharton. I’m attending a public school in Texas right now, but I plan on graduating one year early, so I will be 16 when I graduate.</p>

<p>I have a few questions concerning the program and applications:

  • First will I have to inform a regional admissions director about my plans to graduate early before I apply or should I simply mention it in one of the essays? (I read that Cornell asks people who are graduating early to get permission to apply)
  • As for the M&T program, I suspect that it will contain a rigorous course load, but is there enough time to socialize after all the classes and homework is finished? (I doubt that anyone would want to spend 4 years of only studying without anytime to go out)
  • And I don’t quite get the foreign language requirement about Penn, do I have to take the SAT II for my foreign language before I apply or is there another test I have to take if I get accepted? Also, can I take a language at Penn that wasn’t available at my high school (in other words, a language that I want to learn but have no experience in or little experience in)?</p>

<p>As for my chances, take them as if I was only applying to Wharton (I’d still like commentary about my chances to the M&T program though):</p>

<p>Public School in Texas
Indian American (as in South Asian, not Native American)
Rank: ~20-30/570
GPA: 3.8 unweighted (weighted unknown cause my school uses a weird system out of 6.0; got some Bs in freshmen year, but all As soph, “skipped” junior year)
SAT I: 780 Math, 700 Critical Reading, 700 Writing
SAT IIs: 800 Math IIC, 740 Chem, 730 World History</p>

<p>I haven’t taken any APs as of yet since my school doesn’t offer them for Sophmores, but I took an AP Government and Economics class last summer and am taking 6 AP classes this year:
Calculus BC
Psychology
French
Chemistry AP
Physics AP
English AP
I’ll be taking their respective APs in May (including Government and Economics).</p>

<p>ECs:
Math and Science Club 9, 10, 12 Vice President
Mu Alpha Theta 9, 10, 12 Vying for Officer Position
French Honor Society 9, 10, 12 Vying for Treasurer Position
National Honor Society (will probably get in this year; wasn’t allowed last year because of “sophomore status”) 12
Completed a small research project this summer
Will be volunteering at a Hospital throughout this year</p>

<p>Honors:
National Merit Commended (at the moment, maybe Semifinalist by the time applications are sent in)
Various Math and Science Awards
AIME participant 10th grade (didn’t reach USAMO)</p>

<p>I know that compared to other people on this site who have huge lists of ECs and awards I have a real small list of ECs, but keep in mind that they are mainly focused on Math and Science related activities and I “forfeited” one year of activities.</p>

2

<p>Don't know about your chances but for your questions:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Call admissions directly. I've met several 17 year olds here so I don't think there's any real problem.</p></li>
<li><p>Plenty of time to socialize even with 5 courses a semester. Just think of it as a full time job.</p></li>
<li><p>Either way will work. High enough SAT II will meet the requirement:
<a href="http://www.college.upenn.edu/curriculum/language_exams.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.college.upenn.edu/curriculum/language_exams.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/li>
</ol>

<p>Most language departments also have a test available early in the Fall semester as well. You can take any language you want to once you're here. The pace is about twice that of high school but the teachers are better and there's more support available.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>-Plenty of time to socialize.<br>
-You might be taking more than 5.5 credits some semesters if you plan on graduating in 4 years.
-No need to take your language's SATII. Placement test is online. If you do well enough on that, you are invited to a written/verbal test held by the spanish dept.</p>

4

<p>Can one take a language SAT II after submitting their application and then sent it to Penn later (if they are accepted) for placement?</p>